Tinder Places can be turned on via the pin icon next to the flame icon at the top of the app

It's easy to envision the frightening update being used by stalkers and creeps to monitor your whereabouts.

Of course, the company realises the privacy concerns the update raises, so it's been quick to point out that "Places" is an opt-in feature.

That means you'll have to activate it for people to be able to snoop on your whereabouts.

When it launches in the UK (it's currently limited to Australian cities Sydney and Brisbane, and Santiago, Chile), you'll be able to toggle it on by tapping the pin icon next to the flame icon at the top of the app.

Tinder also claims that the feature doesn't spy on you in real-time. As a result, users will only be able to peep your location 30 minutes after you've left a place.

It's also limited to potential matches, meaning people you've dumped or ghosted (thankfully) won't be able to track you down.

And you'll be able to delete a place if you want to keep it hidden, or block the app from showing you at select spots altogether – because there's certain hangouts you may not want to be caught visiting.

Lastly, Places is "strictly social", according to Tinder – although it's unclear what the company defines as a "social" location. It claims it will show users at bars and libraries but not banks.

Saying that, most hardcore Tinder users should be fine with the update as the app already knows your location as soon as you log in.

This is how it digs up potential new matches in your vicinity.

And other apps may have eased us in to accepting location-tracking as the new normal in our social networking era.

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